Is this damp/condensation?

[Ilkleymoor]

Got two wet patches in the kitchen. The door is open a lot in the day and we air the house but don't currently have heating on although it is chilly. Does this look like condensation or a problem with the windows to you? The door one has droplets pooling on the skirting board, not the door frame - I would expect condensation to drip down onto the plastic frame, not seep through the wall.

Cant see a picture

Pics

Either rising damp or possible leaking roof or leak somewhere else or , ill fitting doors or conservatory roof that sort of thing. Did these appear after heavy rainfall? Water is clearly getting in. Get a builder to have a look.

Agree it looks like a leak rather than condensation.

Is it possible that the rain is getting in a gap between the window and external wall?

I think it probably is is 'penetrating' damp ie rain that has soaked into the wall or though a gap, as PP suggest. Possibly when the wind was blowing rain onto that side of the building. Does this wall face the prevailing wind? Are you in an exposed location (eg on a hill or near the coast?) Did the patches appear after rain?

If this is what the problem is, it might need a bit of skill to work out what route the water is taking: eg it could be around doors/windows where they are fitted (badly!) into the wall; through the masonry itself eg due to cracks in the pointing or rendering outside, or possibly due to a combination of rain penetration, and cavity wall insulation that has become sodden due to water penetration through the outer leaf of the wall, and collecting in the insulation.

So if someone does come out to look at it, make sure they show you exactly what they think the problem is, and convince you that's what it is. Don't let them fob you off with 'open your windows more' or 'pay for a damp proof injection'

We had really similar. The water was getting in under the sill and out looked exactly like that. Took the sill off and found it was all wet. Repointed outside around that area and it fixed it. But the damp patch looked just like yours

Thanks all. We are in a rental - th landlord is very responsive but said he thought it was condensation or damp when I sent the pics. We are by the coast and I'm pretty sure it's badly fitted windows. He's sending a plumber out to look (one is by pipes) but I will need to stand firm I think!

Yes definitely stand firm. It is in the landlord's interest to get it genuinely fixed, as well as yours.

Do your best to get the plumber to show you what they find - a leaky pipe or gutter is also a possibility but make sure you take a look (you can also look now!)

Had a look at the gutters - they are clear. Will see what the plumber says and hover around him!

could you post pics of the outside?

Did you mention that you live near the coast upthread? We used to get really strong coastal winds in my childhood home so you had to stay on top of repointing.

Can you take a photo of about 20 cm of wall where the window frame is?

"Had a look at the gutters - they are clear."

Pop outside when its raining hard and look if there is a constant drip onto the window cill.

I'm a landlord and a tenant complained of a "damp" problem that looked like that. I arranged for a builder, a surveyor and a damp expert to look at it. Each one of them confirmed it was condensation caused by lifestyle and not damp. The tenant was showering frequently, and drying vast amounts of laundry indoors and never opened the windows. The tenant maintained it was damp coming in through the external walls and left.

This was several years ago and subsequent tenants haven't had the problem, so I am sure it was condensation.

@thinkfast we only moved in over the summer, dry everything outside still except for a couple of days when we used a dehumidifier inside instead. While tenants can cause it, I don't think we've caused this. Sounds like you tried to do the right thing by your tenants but I really think this is windows.

@Winter2020 ooh, helpful - I thought bad gutters would just be if the gutter had stuff in it causing a blockage

Pics - one of the patio door and two of the window, including the roof felt which might have lifted away a little. The window is in the kitchen extension and the patio door was added in another part of the kitchen, used to just be a window.

Is that cladding on that wall, has moisture got behind it.

Yes, there is cladding! It's cracked in a lot of places.

Also blimey you lot are knowledgeable.

This is your (or rather your landlord's) problem. The rain is getting under that flap of roof felt and getting behind the render (which probably isn't breathable). You can see the bulge!

@Madcats yes I think you're right. Although the bulge is actually a pattern in the render. Tasteful!

Landlord is going to be glum - literally had 5 roof tiles replaced last week but hadn't noticed this problem at the time.